YORK COUNTY

Birding Challenge is set to help in conservation

York County Audubon will hold its 10th annual 24-hour Birding Challenge from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.

During the challenge, teams of participants cover York County, identifying birds. Money raised from the event goes toward conservation programs. Those interested in participating are invited to form or join a team for the challenge.

For more information, go to www.yorkcountyaudubon.org or contact Lyman Page at 967-2391 or lymanpage@roadrunner.com.

PORTLAND

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Gorham Bike and Ski sets event for women

Gorham Bike and Ski is hosting a Girls and Gear Night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

The theme for the event is “Make your bike fit like your favorite jeans!” and will include talks on biking gear for women and ways to improve riding performance and comfort.

Girls and Gear Night is also a fundraiser for the Women Cancer Fund. That evening, 5 percent of every purchase will go toward the fund.

The evening will include complimentary massages, quick clinics, giveaways and special discounts. It is an RSVP, women-only event.

Gorham Bike and Ski is at 693 Congress St. in Portland. To RSVP or for more information, call 773-1700 or go online to www.gorhambike.com.

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UNION

Friends of Baxter Park elect five board members

Five new board directors were elected at the Friends of Baxter State Park’s recent 10th annual meeting.

Donna Betts of Scarborough is development director for Hospice of Southern Maine. An avid hiker, she recently served as a director on the board of the Scarborough Land Conservation Trust.

Lindsay Bourgoine of Falmouth has completed eight winter climbing trips in Baxter State Park. She may be the youngest female to summit Katahdin in winter, at 15. Bourgoine works for the Appalachian Mountain Club on land conservation policy and advocacy.

Sally Daggett of Portland grew up hiking in Acadia National Park. When not backpacking in Europe or the Canadian Rockies, she practices municipal law. She previously served on the FBSP board for six years.

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Charlie Jacobi of Bar Harbor is a natural resource specialist at Acadia National Park. He previously served on the board of Friends of Baxter State Park for eight years, including three years as president.

Mike Stillman of Farmington has been a trail crew leader in Baxter State Park as well as in other areas for the Maine Conservation Corps, Maine Appalachian Trail Club, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Two others were re-elected to another term on the board. Barbara Bentley is a retired languages teacher and serves as selectman for the town of Hope. She was the original administrative manager for the Friends of Baxter State Park and has been president of the organization for the past three years.

Also re-elected to another term was Chaitanya York. He has served as president of the Maine Conservation School, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, director of the Maine Department of Agriculture’s Division of Resource Development, and founding director of the Common Ground Country Fair.

Several retiring board members were recognized for their service: Philip Ahrens of Yarmouth, Lester Kenway of Bangor, Jonathan Milne of Sidney, Ken Spalding of Wayne and Rex Turner of Augusta.

Officers elected included Bentley as president; Howard Whitcomb of Georgetown, vice president; Al Howlett of Yarmouth, treasurer; and Denise Clavette of Scarborough, secretary.

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Friends of Baxter State Park is a nonprofit citizen organization working to preserve Baxter State Park.

BELFAST

Special trip is planned as part of Bird Week

As part of Bird Week, sponsored by the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, the bird bus will make a special trip Tuesday. Noted bird authority Seth Benz will lead the expedition from 8:30 a.m. to noon, following birds throughout the Belfast area.

Those wishing to participate should call the Waldo County YMCA, another trip sponsor, at 338-4598 for reservations. The fee is $10. Participants should meet promptly at 8:30 a.m. in the YMCA parking lot on Route 52 in Belfast. Wear appropriate clothing and bring water, a snack, sunscreen, camera, bird book and binoculars.

For information on Bird Week, call 338-1147.

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AUGUSTA

Public-service ads stress bicycle safety importance

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has produced two bicycle safety public service announcements that will air on Maine television stations during the spring and summer. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety provided about $16,000 for production costs and purchase of airtime.

One ad educates motorists about the Maine law requiring them to give at least 3 feet of clearance when passing cyclists. The other ad stresses the importance of cyclists wearing bicycle helmets.

The PSAs will appear on WCSH6 throughout the month of May. Additional spots on WCSH6 and WLBZ2 in Bangor will be aired later in the summer.

The ads also will be shown on public access stations in Maine.

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The coalition partnered with a service learning class at the University of Southern Maine on the PSA highlighting Maine’s 3-foot law. USM students Malcolm Tevanian and Israel Jasmin produced the ad using a script written by the coalition.

Oliver Chase, a Portland 5-year-old, and his mother, Ellie Chase, appear in the bicycle helmet PSA. Callie Banks, a Portland fourth-grader, narrates the ad. Shoshana Hoose, the coalition’s communications coordinator, wrote the script and edited it. The PSA notes that Maine law requires children under 16 to wear helmets, and that all cyclists should do so.

Both ads may be viewed at www.bikemaine.org/news-room/share-the-road-media-campaign.

 

 


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